Marblehead honors sailor Rich Wilson

Thursday

Jul 20, 2017 at 9:16 AMJul 20, 2017 at 9:16 AM

By Neil Zolot

About 60 people gathered at the Old Town House just after the Fourth of July to watch as Rich Wilson modestly accepted accolades from the town and its sailing community to mark his finish of the Vendée Globe, a solo around the world sailing race.

Wilson spoke of the race as an educational tool for his SitesAlive website.

Wilson finished 13th out of a field of 29 crossing the finish line back in February after more than three months at sea in the 60-foot Great American IV. At age 66, he was the oldest sailor in the race and the only American. entered. It was his second Vendée Globe, after having competed the challenge in 2008.

“In shorthanding you have to know so much more than on a fully crewed boat,” he said. “The challenge is everything can go wrong in five minutes. The stress never stops. It’s physical and emotional.”

A number of speakers preceded Wilson, all introduced by Boston Yacht Club and Storm Trysail Club member Jamie Noyes.

“We’re here to welcome Rich home,” he said. “More people have summited Mt. Everest than sailed around the world singlehanded and Rich did it twice.”

“Until you’ve seen the size of the waves or been at sea for extended periods of time, you have no idea what it’s like,” added Brian Hancock, who has sailed around the world a number of times in races.

He added that solo racing is that much harder because “you have to make every decision yourself.”

Great American IV designer Merfyn Owen said the Vendée Globe is not about sailing but character. Wilson was also presented with citations from the town, the state legislature and the Storm Trysail Club, one of the co-sponsors of the event.

Storm Trysail Commodore Lenny Sitar called Wilson “an exemplary member and a great American.” State Senator Thomas McGee said Wilson sailing two Vendée Globes was an “amazing accomplishment.” With fellow member Judy Jacobi by her side, Selectmen chairman Jackie Belf-Becker offered Wilson “heartfelt congratulations from the Selectmen. You inspire us with your determination and drive.”

After the festivities, local Storm Trysail Fleet captain Clarke Smith said Wilson’s feat “is almost incomprehensible to me. To do what he has done... but more important is the work he’s done with children. Bringing the boat to the classroom is inspiring.”

Also attending was Amy Drinker, a member of the Board of Directors of the Marblehead Museum, which also co-sponsored the reception. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment he’s done twice,” she said of Wilson’s circumnavigations.

“We’re happy the only American in the race was from Marblehead.”

The audience also included a number of young sailors who were participating in the Marblehead-Halifax race, primarily from the Oakcliff Sailing Center in Oyster Bay, New York. The event was planned to coincide with the Halifax Race in the hopes of attracting sailors.